Paul Pogba has been withdrawn from the France squad after being diagnosed’ with coronavirus, head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has also been
forced’ to tug out from Deschamps’ squad for the games against Sweden and
Croatia next month, having returned a positive Covid-19 test.
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Deschamps
confirmed that Pogba “had a test yesterday which [returned] positive this
morning”, and also confirmed Ndombele’s absence for an equivalent reason.
“Paul Pogba was planned for the line-up. Unfortunately for
him, he did a test yesterday which came back positive this morning,” Descamps
said. “Therefore, at the eleventh hour, I had to exchange him by Eduardo
Camavinga.”
The two Premier League players have entered a period of
self-isolation for 14 days, and cannot be considered’ for the games on Saturday
5 September and Tuesday 8 September.
The positive test results could also keep the pair out of the
opening weekend of the new Premier League season, which is thanks to get
underway in only over two weeks’ time.
Spurs begin their 2020/21 campaign on Saturday 12 September
against Everton, although United aren't in action until the subsequent weekend
once they face Crystal Palace, as they need been granted’ an additional period
of rest thanks to their European commitments last season.
United issued a quick statement to verify that Pogba had been
forced to withdraw from the France squad, and sent the 27-year-old their best
wishes for his recovery.
“Pogba has been replaced within the squad after testing
positive for Covid-19. The midfielder are going to be unable to feature to his
69 caps and 10 goals for his country within the games next month,” a united
club statement read.
“Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery before the
new season.”
Deschamps skilled the sudden withdrawal of his two
midfielders by calling up Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga to his 23-man
squad, which also sees a recall handed to Pogba’s Manchester United team-mate
Anthony Martial.
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